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How To Make Hot Sauce

Anyone that knows my husband knows that he is a sucker for spicy food! He puts pickled peppers on just about everything, he loves sriracha, harissa, and dried chiles probably more than any other type of food. To be perfectly honest I am pretty sure he considers peppers to be a complete food group of their own. Knowing that scalding his taste buds off brings him immense joy and happiness I am always on the hunt for the next spicy thing that will make him say ” Now that is hot!”

If you could only take a peak into my fridge you would immediately notice that my crisper drawers are filled with peppers. Right now I think there are more peppers than any other vegetable actually. {I have got to work on that!} Anyways, when I notice that my fridge has no room for other veggies because spicy peppers are taking up all of the free real estate it’s time to make hot sauce.

Hot sauce may seem intimidating to make, but actually other than a little whirl in the food processor and whole bunch of patience there isn’t that much to it! Let’s turn up the heat!

You can use pretty much any peppers that you would like to make your own hot sauce with. You can use all one variety of pepper for your hot sauce or you can make a custom blend of peppers like I do. This time I made two batches, the first is a hatch chile – jalapeno mix and the second is a yellow sweet banana pepper-jalapeno mix.

Step 2: Place the chiles and 2 tablespoons of Kosher salt into a food processor and pulse until a coarse purée forms.

Step 3: Transfer to a 1-quart glass jar with the lid loosely screwed on and let stand at room temperature for 12 hours so that it can slightly ferment.

Ok, so you can technically wait 24 hours then move onto to step 5, but I highly recommend waiting at least 4 days and up to 7. This allows the flavors to really deepen and makes your hot sauce that much more intense. I always wait 7 days, it is just better that way!

Step 5:Purée the pepper mixture again in a food processor or blender until smooth.

This should only take about a minute.

Step 6: Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean glass bowl.

You will want to work in batches for this step. Pour some of the pepper mixture through the sieve and press on the solids with a spatula to make sure that all of the hot sauce has been extracted.

I have been handing off hot sauce to some of our friends and neighbors since I made 2 whopping batches. This hot sauce makes a great gift or you can hoard it all for your self. One batch makes a little over two cups of hot sauce and will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 months in an airtight container. As it sits the hot sauce will separate, so be sure to shake it well before using.

I have used habanero peppers before, but I usually mix them with a milder pepper too. Right now I am making a batch of hot sauce that has jalapenos, padron peppers, and garlic. Homemade hot sauce is so much better than store bought, I hope you have as much fun making it as we do!

Hey Mimi, the bottles in the image were a gift to me and I have yet to find another set, however when I want to give the hot sauce away to someone I use a bottle like these. The link is for a set of 12 bottles with screw on lids, which is easier for giving as gifts as well.

Dear Meg, Thank you so very much for the ” Hot Sauce” recipe. Me and my husband and of course our adult children could drink it as a beverage with our meals. We are forever running out of this wonderful “pepper” condiment at the worst times. I am definitely going to use your recipe. Again, thank you. I just found your site clicking on a recipe , now it doesn’t matter the recipe because I’m sure you have it here only healthier, checking my e-mail. May God continue to bless you and your wonder family! BTW I have joined. Sorry, I love to talk, so says my husband.

You could leave some of the pulp in with the liquid instead of straining it out. My husband’s favorite hot sauces are about the same consistency as these, but if you like a thicker sauce leave some pulp. 🙂 I love adding garlic in with the sauce sometimes – good choice!

I didn’t know that you could quickly make hot sauce in a food processor. Thank you for your recipe. My husband loves anything spicy and I think he would really enjoy trying the green hot sauce. I don’t have a lot of time in my day to cook. Even if I did I have never been talented in the kitchen. I think for my husband and my own benefit I should just find a hot sauce we love off the shelf.

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ABOUT MEG

Meg van der Kruik is the writer, mother, photographer, designer, cook and creative spirit behind This Mess is Ours. After her infant son was diagnosed with a gluten allergy, she dedicated herself to learning to make meals the whole family would love. It’s a bit of a mess – cooking for a vegetarian and three meat-eaters with a range of gluten + dairy sensitivities, but she manages to bring them together every night around their little family table.